John,

"I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of Thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens."

- President Abraham Lincoln

In 1863, after hard-fought Union victories at Gettysburg and Vicksburg, President Abraham Lincoln issued the first-ever Thanksgiving Proclamation - a White House tradition that continues today.

As we begin the holiday season, ending a very challenging year, I hope you are able to join with family and friends to give thanks for our many blessings.

Please join me in giving thanks for our doctors, nurses, healthcare workers, public health officials, emergency medical services personnel, volunteers, teachers, grocers, farmers, truckers, and caregivers.

Let us always remember to thank and pray for our brave men and women in uniform who are serving around the world today to protect our freedom at home so we can celebrate this Thanksgiving.

Let us also give thanks to our brave law enforcement officers across New York and our country who are under attack. Many of them are working tonight and unable to be with their family as they work to keep us safe: our State Troopers, State Investigators, Border Patrol, our Customs and Border Protection Officers, Corrections Officers, County Deputies and our Local Police. We must always Back the Blue.

I wish you and your loved ones a safe and Happy Thanksgiving.

-Elise Stefanik

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